DOE Sets Spending Plan for $1.474 Billion in New EERE Funds

March 21, 2007

DOE released its spending plan on March 16th for funds appropriated by
last month's continuing resolution, which included $1.474 billion for
the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Compared
to the appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2006, DOE's spending plan
will more than double the funding for EERE's programs in hydrogen
technology, solar energy, and biomass and biorefinery systems research
and development. The plan also increases funding for research in wind
energy and energy efficiency technologies for vehicles, buildings, and
industries. DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory fares well
under the plan, garnering $83 million to build a new integrated
biorefinery research facility and a research support facility, along
with more than $24 million for operation and maintenance of its
existing facilities. Other programs that will see funding increases
under the new plan are the Federal Energy Management Program, the
State Energy Program, and the International Renewable Energy Program.

In mid-February, Congress passed and President Bush signed a bill that
will provide continued funding for the federal government for the
remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2007, which concludes at the end of
September. Such "continuing resolutions" are enacted in lieu of the
traditional budgetary process. The bill set a one-month deadline for
DOE to report back to Congress with its spending plan. According to
DOE, the spending plan will also allow the DOE Office of Science to
award funding for three bioenergy research centers. See the
DOE press release,
pages 5 and 6 of the DOE spending plan (PDF 62 KB),
and for background, an article on the continuing resolution
from the February 21st edition of the EERE Network News.
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